Baseboard for electrical outlets



Nov. 6, 1951 w s 2,574,075

BASEBOARD FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLETS Filed Sept. 28, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l IW I I33 I l i f F W: 13 5/ E cafe-Z0 a zgijlx I m 2+ ,4 WW N W 9% 13 Z{4 l A 3 b INVENTOR. I rw q 4,2 145M029. Weider L42 H W fry 2 v A650171416 Nov. 6, 1951 A. B. WEISLER Filed Sept. 28, 1949 BASEBOARD FORELECTRICAL OUTLETS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. Allan/B. Wiaer PatentedNov. 6,

N TED 5 e lensnisohaorolt ELECTRICAI} comes" Wa w ien e-Applicationsept'embe'r 28,1949,SerialNo.'-118,431 R Thisinventionrelates,in-generaL to a base* board mold unit forrbuildinginteriors having a plurality of electrical .outlet socketscombinedintegrally therewith internally of the baseboard, and moreparticularly to aibaseboardtfor-'residem tial and commercial interiorswhich-isdetachably mounted at' the floor levelrtothe walls of suchinteriors and is provided-with a seriesi'of spaced electrical outletsooke'ts intercoupled1 in series electrical relation internally of the'baseboard ld 1; 1M1 I -It has been the conventiona'l's practiceheretoiore, to provide for floor level 'electricalo'utlet sockets in thebaseboard mold of "residential-or commercial building interiors bycutting suitable openings in the -baseboard mold panel: spaced along thelength of the moldandmounting electrical outletfiiturehousings therein,each 'as an individual v 7 attached unit--- within-v thebaseboard moldpanel. The contact terminalsof these-elec rical outlet units arei'ntcrcoupledin adesired manner by appropriate wiring--dis"posed--behind the baseboardmold coupling the-contacts of theoutlet socket 4 with the electrical "supply-line. Therearemanydisadvantages" incident to this type of-floorlevel electrical-outletsocket'arrange ment. Particular-1 y; the provision- Y of the outletsockets in housings f dissimilar material than that of "which thebaseboard mold-i's constructed;

in a suitable-recess cut -through' th'e baseboard mold, and-covered bye;plasticor other ornamental covering element-"presents" an unsightlyappearance as it-i'n'terrup'tsthe 'normal uniform iaceof the baseboardmold and constitutes unsightly ofisetsprojectin g out of thenormal-plane of the face of-the "baseboard" mold; Likewise, provision ofsuch prior art electrical outlet sockets in a baseboard mold involvesthe operations-of cutting the appropriat'eopening or recess in" thebaseboard mold'vand wiring the floor level outlet contacts with thesupply line, usually requiring theservices of'a skilledelectrician;' 2:.h It is an objectof the presentrinvention to provide a novel baseboardmoldunit for'building interiors having a spaced series of floorlevelfelectrical outlets disposed at intervals along; the length of thebaseboard and formedintegrally therewith, adaptedto overcome thecabove-discussed disadvantages. -Another,object of the present:invention is the provision of a novel baseboard inold unit-for buildingmaterial having 13, system of "spaced WhiChunit is readily .attahable toany building 79 Claims. 01. 173-2341) some b s ec velyz de ac l as nssff t visible externally ,pf the assembled baseboard mold unit. p 4Another b ec wit t-nr s n nt n i t e provision of a novelbaseboardmol-dfor building interiors which isqprovided with an integrallyincorporated plurality-of electrical outlet contacts so arranged as toafford a continuous series ofmoutlets at spaced intervals alongtheentire length of each baseboard moldunit. Y v

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novelbaseboardmold for building interiors having integrally-combinedtherewith an internally arranged serie of ,electrical outlet contactsspaced. at 1 intervals; along the length thereof, which combinedrbasieboard mold and electrical. outletsockets Lare readily positionableasa'unit-onthe surface of the-building interior withiwhichzitistobeglassociated. ,1 v Another object. is :the provision ofa novel baseboard mold for building interiors havinga'plu rality ofseriesintercouple'd electrical outleticontacts' forming electrical convenientoutlet sockets spaced at uniform intervals .along. the length iof; thebaseboard mold and which: are'readily intercoupled With'asource ofelectrical supply to supply the-electrical energy to all ofithelelectrical outletcontacts. I i V imw;

Other objects, advantages, capabilitiesisof-the present invention willbecome apparent from the following-detailed description taken inconjunce tion with: the accompanying drawings; showing only a'preferred" embodiment of the invention;- wherein: I"

1 Figure 1- is a front elevation of a baseboard mold for buildinginteriors,-- embodying the pres er-it invention, showing a part of thebaseboardmold broken away to disclose the structure of the mountingbracket therefor; 4

Figure Zfisa vertical transverse section of the baseboard mold forbuilding interiors embodying the present inventiomtaken-along thel'ines-2'-2 Figure 3 -is ahoriaontal' transverse section of the instantbaseboard mold for building interiors; taken'along the lines33 of-vFigure 2; I i Figuree is'a perspective view of a portion of the mainbaseboard mold panel taken from the re'ar of the panel, showing thedetails of the formation and internalarrangement thereof; i";

Figure-51s a perspective-view of the'wall mounting ibrack'et of theinstant baseboard mold unit; i r or flFigureio is a perspectiveviw of aV-shapedspring contact employedin the present invention V y 3 to provideelectrical coupling at the floor level convenient sockets between anelectrical contact plug blade and the electrical source wires or supplyline for the building;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a right-angle V-shaped spring contactfor electrically intercoupling the respective sectional units of thebaseboard mold at the corners of the building interiors;.and-

Figure; 8 is a perspective view of an elongated section of the toemolding strip for the baseboard mold unit.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, thecombined electrical outlet and baseboard mold, generally indicated atH], is formed of a'main'jbase-e board panel I l substantiallyrectangular in character and adapted to be disposed along'the base ofthe wall, indicated at [2, of a building interior at flo'or levcl. Themain baseboard' p'anel'1l formedof a suitable commercially marketedvariety of insulating plastic molded so as -tbfornia front planar facel3 rearwardly of which extend top and bottom flanges l4 and I5 and anintermediate conduit housing portion IS, the latter of which is adaptedto carry the various electrical conductor and contact elements.

*The conduit housing portion I6 is provided internally thereof with twovertically spaced conduit channels I! and [8 of triangularcross-sectional configuration extending the length of the mainbaseboardpanel I I. These triangular channels l1 and I8 are disposed so thattheir apices are directed toward the front face l3 of the main panel Hand-their bases are disposed toward the rearmost surface of the conduithousing 'lli. Constricted, rearwardly opening slots" r9, 19' extend fromthe'mid-pointbf the bases of the triangular conduitj channels l1 and I8through the rearmost surface of the conduit housing l6 and arecoextensive with the channels lT'and l8, to provide access to thechannels at anyfpoint'along their length from the rear of the conduithousing portion.

At uniformly'spaced intervals along the length of "the main panel I l ofthe baseboard mold, vertically aligned substantially rectangularreceptacle orifices 20, 20' are formed extending throughcthe front face-13 of the, main panel II and into the triangular or v shapede portionsof the elongated conduit channelsl'l and 18. These orifices20, 20, are'of proper size and spacing to receive the contactor blades or prongs ofa conventional electrical; appliance-plug, and are of such a depth as todispose the inner ends of the contactor blades within the triangular .orVeshaped portions of the elongated channels I! and I8. v a

To supply electrical energy to the areas adjacent the baseboard outletorifices 20, 20, the upper and lower faces of the triangular ;orV-shaped areas of the elongated channels l1 and I8,;respectively, arecoated continuously along their length with af-metallic composition ormetallic suspension'paint, indicatedat 2i and 2|" of conventionalcommercial varieties, having properties of good adhesion characteristicsand high electricalconductivity. The metallic paint at 2| and 2| on thefacesof the triangular or V-shaped portions of the channels I! and I8form electrical conductive coating strips extending the entire length ofthe main baseboard panelijell,

rorming electrical buss barsor conduits which may betapped at any pointalong the length of.

the main baseboard panel. Within the triangular or V-shaped areas of theslots l1 and I8, V-spring contactors 22, illustrated in Figure 6, aredisposed, as by forcing the V-shaped spring strips 22, by means of ascrew driver blade, through the rectangular constricted slots [9, I9 ofthe chanspring contacts are disposed within the triangular areas of thechannels I! and I8 in the areas where "the-electrical outlet receptacleorifices 20, 20'

join the triangular areas of the channels I! and I8 so that the inner'endsonthe blades of the electrical appliance plugs will be electricallycoupled with the V'-shaped spring contacts: The legs 23, 23 oftheTV-Vshapedspring contacts may be cutio'r otherwise-"formed into aninterruptedseries of strips extending'toward the base of the V toimprove their contact characteristics.

V-shaped contact springs 22; may be likewise disposed at the'end' of themain panell I or some convenient location-"alongthe; length thereofwithin the triangular areas of the channels 1-! and 18; whichsprings'22'are intercoupled with the lead-ends 'ofthe electrical sourcewires orsupply line (not shown) -=asby soldering or the like,to-supplygelectrical current to the spaced pair of conductorcoatingstrips at 2 I; 21; on the upper and lower faces of the elongatedchannels I! and-l8, respectivelyr In this manner, the electrical energywill be-transmitted through the spring contacts 22 disposed ateach ofthe electrical outlet-receptacle-orifices 20, 20' disposed along thelength of the main baseboard panel II. Right-angular V-shaped contactsprings 24, shown in Figure '7, consisting'oftwo sections 25, 25intercoupled-q-along -their--apices,- each substantially-identical-tothew-shaped springs 22, are provided to intercouple the conduit channelsHand 48 in respective baseboardpanel sections at thecorners of the'room. ;-These function in substantially the same manneras the contacts22; but intercouple electrical-current supplied to themetallicconductive coatings 2|; 2| in the baseboard section connected" tothesupply line, with corresponding metallic conductive coatings in theremainin baseboard sections in the build ingmaterial.

This=jassembled unit-"of: theimainbaseboard panel-=l land the baseboardelectricaloutlet sockets'formed'at the receptacleforifices 20 and 20'are-adaptedito'be detachably-mounted as a unit on the wall 12ofstheibuilding interior with which the baseboard is "to'be associated"by means'of a convenient mounting bracket." This mountingbracketpgenerally indicated'at' 30, and shown in det'airin Figu'resl to3 "an'd'S, "comprises a vertically extending arm 3| andia baseportion'32 of laterally extending rectangular f configuration. Thebaseboard mounting bracket-"3U' is'provided Withifini aperture 33 nearthe top thereof "adapted to receive aisuitablescrew or' 'like fasteningelementz therethro'ugn-as illustrated at33', for securing the bracketitothe 'iva ll- 12 '?of the building interiors. Theibase?327oth' bracket 30is provided'iwith; a tongueaial, c'ut a'iidbent outwardly gate-ateatright angles to thebody of "the bracket-30;

having a triangular base-35aconverging into a narrow T-shaped lip 36 atthe end thereof; The T-shaped cutout or opening, --indicated at 36',remaining in the bodyof the bracket 30in the vertical portion 3| thereofforms'a suitable aper ture through which anothersecuring element such asa wood screw 33' or the like, may be i'n-* serted to rigidly mount'thebracket'on the; Walli2 of the building'interior. A suitable channel 31may be pressed out of the triangular base 35 toretain the tongue34-perpendicular to the! bracket base 32. g l

The upper end of the vertical portion 3| of the bracket 33 is providedwith a "forwardly flared' shoulder or hook 38, adapted to receive adown-- wardly. extending projection 39 of substantially correspondingshape at the rear end of the topflange M of the main vbaseboard panel'H, to retain the top of the main baseboard panel II in position againstthe wanna-r the buildinginterior. Apertures 4B of substantially thevertical transverse cross sectional shape of the T-shaped lip 36 of thetongue 34 on the bracket 30*are adapted to receive the "ends of theT-por-; tions 36 on the mounting brackets therethrough sothat the Textends entirel'y'forward of the front face I3 of the mainbaseboardpanel To clamp the main baseboard panel securely in position, a toemolding strip 4| isprovide'cl, likewise formed as by molding of anelectrically insulating plastic material, and providedwith spaced slots42 'ofa horizontal T-shaped cross section corresponding with theT-shaped lip 36 on the mounting bracket tongue 34. These T-shaped slots42 inthe toe molding strip'Al extend only a short distance upwardlyfrom-the bottom of the toe molding strip. 'The' toemolding strip 4! isadapted to be fitted'downover' the protruded T-shaped lips 36 toaposition such interior with which it'is to be associated. The

novel mounting bracket and clamping toe molding strip assembly providesa'-"r'eadily detachable unit to permit easy' repairing or replacementofthe baseboard mold or electrical outlet therein. This unit presents aparticularly attractive appearance. The electrical outlet receptacles"appear only as spaced pairs of receptacle orifices extending throughtheunbroken outer face of the main baseboard panel. --The present unitmay be readily adapted for any size buildingin terior wall, as the.assembled main baseboard mold and electrical-outlet receptacle maybefabricatedin sections of uniform length or may be cut to the length ofthe walls.

While I have particularly shown anddescribed but one specificembodimentof 'the' invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is'not limited thereto, but that various modifications may be made in theinventionwithout dparting from the spirit and scope thereof; and? it isdesired, therefore, that only 'sut'h limitations shall be placed thereonas'-a1fe imposed by 6 the prior art and are set forth in the appendedclaims. r r

Whatis claimed is:-

An electrical conduit molding comprising,

" an elongated molding panel of insulating material-havi-ng a-rearwa-rdly disposed conduithousing coextensive therewith, a pair ofvertically spaced conduit channels internally disposed within saidconduithousing and extending substantiallythe length thereof, eachofsaid channels being provided with a constricted elongated slot openingthrough the rear of said conduit housing, a continuous coatingstrip ofelectrically conduc tiv'emateri'al' disposedin each-of said conduitchannels coextensive with said channels to be; coupled across'an'electrical supply line, inter mittently spaced verticalpairs of orificesextending fromsaid channels'through the front of said' panel adapted toreceive prongs of electrical ap-" p1iance""plugs,' and resilientconductive contact elements selectivelypositionable in said conduitchannels by'insertion through said constricted slots" tofjbe engaged bythe ends of said prongs posed within said conduit housing and coexteningstrips.

sive therewith, ,each of said channels being provided with a constrictedelongated slot opening through, the rear of said conduit housing, acontinuous coating strip. of 'electrically conductive material disposedin each of said conduit channels onthe upper and lower surfacesthereofrespectively to be intercoupled with an electrical supply line,vertical pairs of orifices intermittently spacedlongitudinally of saidpanel extending from said channels through thefront of said panel andadapted to receive prongs of electricalappliance'plugs, and electricallyconduc-I tive ,V-shaped spring contacts selectively insertablein saidconduit channels through said elongated slots with their apices directedforwardly of said panel, said spring contacts being dis posed to beengaged by the ends of said prongs when inserted fully within saidorifices to electrically intercouplesaid prongs with said coat- 3,.Anelectrical conduit baseboard molding for building interiors comprising,an elongated molding panel; of insulating material having a planar front,face and a rearwardly disposed conduit housing, a pair of verticallyspaced conduit channels triangular in cross section with their apicesdirected forwardly of said panel internally disposed withinsaid conduithousing and coextensive therewith, each of said channels beingprovidedwith a constricted elongated slot opening throughthe rear ofsaid conduit housing, a con-7 tinuous conductive coating formed on theupper and lower faces .of the conduit channels respectively; by a.-suspension ofielectrically conductive,

particlesina suitable carrier vehicle to be coupled acrossan electricalsupply line, vertical pairs o f. orifices intermittently spacedlongitudinally of said panel extending from said channels, through thefront of said panel and adapted to receive prongs of electricalappliance plugs, and, electrically conductive V-shaped spring contacts4. An electrical conduit baseboard molding fer: building interiorscomprising, an elongated mold ts Pan of i su at n metst e caries atases;

front face and a rearwardly disposed conduit housing, a pair ofvertically spaced conduit channels triangular in cross section withtheir apices directed forwardly of said panel internally disposed withinsaid conduit housing and coextensive therewith, ,each'. of said,channels be n provided with a constricted elongated slot opem ingthrough the rear of said conduit housing, a continuous electricallyconductive coating of -metallic paint disposedin each of said conduitchannels along one wall thereof to be coupled across an'ele'ctricalsupply line, vertical pairsof'orifices intermittently spacedlongitudinally of said panel extending from said chanels through thefront of said panel and adapted to receive prongs of electricalappliance plugs, and electrically conductive V-shaped spring contactsselectively insertable in said conduit channels through said elongatedslots with their apices directed forwardly of said'panel, [said'springcontacts being disposeditozbe engaged by the ends of said prongs wheninserted fullywithin said orifices to electrically intercouple saidprongs with said conductive coating.

5. An electrical conduitmolding comprising,

an elongated molding panel of insulated material, apair of verticallyspaced conduit channels in;

ternally disposed within saidmolding paneland extending substantiallythe length thereof,. e ach of said channels being provided with, aconstricted elongated slot opening through thelrear of said panel,electrically conductive conduit means disposed within each of saidchannels substantially coextensive therewith to be, coupled across anelectrical supply line,spaced pairs'of orifices extending from saidchannels through the front of said molding panel adapted to receiveprongs of electrical appliance plugs, elec-- trically conductive contactmembers disposed in said conduit panel to contact the ends of saidprongs extending through said orifices and electrically intercouple saidprongs with said elec trically conductive means, bracket means adaptedto be secured to a Wall on which the conduit molding is to be mountedhaving locking 6. An electrical conduit baseboard molding for buildinginteriors comprising, an elongated molding panel of insulating materialhaving aplanar front face and a rearwardly disposed,

conduit housing, a pair of vertically spaced conduit channels triangularin cross section with their apices directed forwardly of said panelinternally disposed within said conduit housing and coextensivetherewith; each of said channels being provided with a constrictedelongated slot opening through the rear of said conduit housing,-

a continuous coating strip of electrically conductive material disposedin each of said conduit channels on the upper andlower surfaces thereof60. and extending substantially the length thereof,

r spec vslr tqzbc e est ally in ercqup edmith .ca pplyj n lz ti a p p ir0f ori fi ces intermittently-spaced longitudinally of said panel;extending from 'said channels through the;

xe p aid-Panel a d ad p e to c 'p ngs t-s t fita la plianc v plu ectr cay c.0n, ductivec zsh ned; p in c ntacts l c iv ly 1 .1 sertableinsaidconduit channels through said elon at d ;-S 1Qt S; with their apicesdirected fore. fiIQlYiQizSflidilfiIlfiL sa d; sp tac b in disp ed tobeengaged by the;endsof,said prongs, Whfi ,il fl tsdil ully w h saidv0rific s.;-to el trically intercouple said prongs with'zsaid coatingstrips, bracket means adapted *to be secured to a wall onwhichtheconduitmolding is to be u d h vin ockln; ,mcans thereon dispos to;extend through corresponding apertures in said panel,and .-outwardlythereof ,1 andkan auxil-i a y I iIlS" fi fiphayi smeans:thereon to en;gagecsaid lqcking means toffixedly retainisa'i'dz panel :against thewall; "7. An electric al-cgnduit baseboard molding: for buildinginteriors-comprising, anlelongated mold-1. ing panel ,ofinsulatingmaterial having a planar front. face: and; a rearwardly disposedconduitv housing, a pair of; vertically; spaced 7 conduitchannelsstriangular in- ,cross' section with their apices directedforwardly ofsaid panel internally disposed within said conduit housingand coextensive therewith, each of said channelsbeing provided with aconstricted-elongated slot open-i ing through the rearof said conduithousing, a continuous coating strip of electrically conductive materialdisposed in each of saidv conduit channels on the upper andlowersurfaces thereof respectively" to be electrically intercoupled-with' anelectrical supply line, vertical pairs of o'rifices intermittentlyspaced longitudinally of said panel extending from-said channels throughthe front of said panel and adapted to receive'prongs of electricalappliance'plugs, electrically conductive V-shapedspring contactsselectively insertable in said conduit channels through said elongatedslots with their apices directedforwardly of said panel, saidspringcontacts being disposed to be' engaged by the ends of said prongswhen inserted fully within said orifices tov electrically intercouplesaid prongs with said coating strips, bracket means adapted to besecured to a building interior wall having a retaining tonguethereon-adapted to extend through a corresponding aperture in saidelongated panel, and an auxiliary molding strip having a locking recessadapted to receive a locking projection on the end of said tonguetoremovably retain said molding panel against the building interior wall.

8. An'electrical conduit molding comprising, an elongated molding panelof insulated material, a pair of vertically spaced conduit channelsinternally disposed "within said molding panel each of said channelsbeing provided with a constricted elongated slot opening through the'rear of said panel, electrically conductive conduit meansdisposed-within each of said channels substantially coextensivetherewith to be coupled across an electrical supply line, spaced pairsof orificesw extending from said channels through the front of saidmolding panel adapted to re-'- ceive prongs of electrical applianceplugs, electricallyconductive con'tact members disposed in saidconduit/channels to contact the ends of said prongs extending throughsaid, orifices andyelec= trically;intercouple said prongs with saidele'ctrically iconductive ,means, gbracket ,means .adapted to be securedto a building interior wall hav-' ing a retaining tongue thereon adaptedto extend through a corresponding aperture in said elongated panel, andan auxiliary molding strip having a locking recess adapted to receivealocking projection on the end of said tongue to removably retain saidmolding panel against the building interior wall.

9. An electrical conduit baseboard molding for building interiorscomprising, an elongated molding panel of insulating material havingaplanar front face and a rearwardly disposed conduit housing, a pair ofvertically spaced con"- duit channels triangular in cross section withtheir apices directed forwardly of said panel in"- ternally disposedwithin said conduit housing and coextensive therewith, each of saidchannels being provided with a constricted elongated slot openingthrough the rear of said conduit housing, a continuous coating strip ofelectrically conductive material disposed in each of said conduitchannels on the upper and lower surfaces thereof respectively to beelectrically intercoupled with an electrical supply line, vertical pairsof orifices intermittently spaced longitudinally of said panel extendingfrom said channels through the front of said panel vand adapted toreceive prongs of electrical appliance plugs, electrically conductiveV-shaped spring contacts selectively insertable in said conduit channelsthrough said elongated slots with their apices directed forwardly ofsaid panel, said spring contacts being disposed to be engaged by theends of said prongs when inserted fully within said orifices toelectrically .intercouple said prongs with said coating strips, bracketmeans adapted to be secured to a building interior wall having aretaining tongue thereon adapted to extend through a correspondingaperture in said elongated panel, and an auxiliary molding strip havinga locking recess adapted to receive a looking projection on the end ofsaid tongue to removably retain said molding panel against the buildinginterior wall.

' ALLAN B. WEISLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,958,993 Friend May 15, 19341,962,554 De Mask June 12, 1934 2,190,196 Semenyna Feb. 13, 19402,478,006 Paden Aug. 2, 1949

